Sardinia in May Day 15 - Hiking from Vignola to Portobello di Gallura

Wednesday is our last day in Sardegna. In the morning we start our walk at the Parking for Spiaggia San Silverio. The path starts from a cowshed with cows and a disinterested young bull. They don't even look up from grazing as we carefully open and reclose the gate and walk towards the sea. The area is heavily grazed. These are not fussy cows like the ones in the mountains where we live. They have grazed absolutely everything to a few millimetres.

The weather forecast was for sun all day and in fact there are dark clouds and it starts spotting with rain. We persevere south. After climbing over a wall (part of the path, to keep the cows in), the vegetation recovers a little and we meet some of our favourite Armeria. The coast is beautiful. Pale pink rocks, blue sea, deserted little coves. And the little chapel near the sea.

We continue, shedding layers as the sun wins over the clouds as far as the first villas of Portobello di Gallura. On the way back we continue from the car park in the other direction to the Torre di Vignola, which, surprisingly, is open and free to climb for the views. From here there's a good view of the large sandy beach of Baia di Vignola and the dozen houses on the beach with Mediterranean vegetation and campsites behind.

After lunch and tidying up a little ready for departure, since the wind is still strong, we go on foot to Ziu Culumba beach, which, not surprisingly, is full of people, since it's protected from the wind unlike Rena di Ponente. Too many people and uncomfortable to walk on the beach so we find the usual track along the coast and look at the 'Roman columns' and some little coves. Andrea lies on a suitably inclined rock to sunbathe.

Later, I wade along the Rena Ponente beach in the waves and wind. Fantastic! Time to pack up. Tomorrow we get the 10.30 ferry from Olbia to Livorno.